With the College Football Playoff field nearly set, the penultimate rankings delivered a shakeup that could have lasting implications heading into Championship Weekend. The biggest headline?
Then-No. 16 Texas knocking off No.
3 Texas A&M in a rivalry stunner that handed the Aggies their first loss of the season and sent shockwaves through the playoff picture.
Texas A&M’s postseason hopes aren’t officially dead, but the loss drops them to No. 7 and out of the SEC Championship Game - a critical blow for a team that had been cruising toward a top-four finish. Their stumble opened the door for several contenders to slide up: Georgia, Texas Tech, Oregon, and Ole Miss all leapfrogged the Aggies, tightening the race for those final playoff spots.
Georgia now sits at No. 3, and while the Bulldogs are set to face Alabama in the SEC title game, their resume is likely strong enough to lock up a playoff berth regardless of the outcome. Alabama, meanwhile, moved up to No. 9, but their postseason fate could hinge entirely on how they perform in Atlanta. A loss to Georgia might be too much to overcome with so many teams jockeying for position.
Texas Tech and Oregon, ranked No. 4 and No. 5 respectively, are in prime position - especially with Oregon’s late-season surge and Texas Tech’s consistency keeping them firmly in the top tier. BYU, now No. 11, will face Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game, and that matchup could be a make-or-break moment for both programs.
If the Cougars pull off the upset, both teams could sneak into the final 12-team CFP bracket. But a second loss to the Red Raiders likely ends BYU’s playoff dreams.
Ole Miss, sitting at No. 6, continues to hold strong despite the recent departure of head coach Lane Kiffin. The Rebels are still in the mix, and while their ceiling might be capped without a conference title game appearance, they’ve done enough to stay in the conversation - at least for now.
Further down the rankings, USC climbs slightly to No. 16 after Michigan’s loss to top-ranked Ohio State. But the Trojans are effectively out of the playoff picture, and barring chaos, they’ll likely finish as the fourth-highest Big Ten team. Michigan’s slide to No. 18 reflects the sting of that rivalry loss, while Virginia and Arizona sneak into the top 20 with timely wins.
One of the more debated topics in this week’s rankings is Notre Dame’s placement at No. 10, one spot ahead of Miami despite losing to the Hurricanes earlier this season. Miami, now at No. 12, has a legitimate gripe, but Notre Dame’s overall strength of schedule and recent performances have clearly kept them in the committee’s good graces. Adding to the drama, BYU at No. 11 is sandwiched between the two and still has a chance to make a statement in the Big 12 title game.
As for the Group of Five contenders, Tulane is leading the charge at No. 20.
The Green Wave are in pole position for the one reserved spot in the playoff for a non-Power Five team, but they’re not alone. North Texas (No. 25) and James Madison (No. 23) are also in the mix after climbing into the rankings this week.
The late-season losses by Tennessee, Arizona State, SMU, and Pittsburgh opened the door for these newcomers to make their case.
Here’s where things stand after the latest rankings shake-up:
Top 25 College Football Playoff Rankings (Penultimate Week):
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
- BYU
- Miami
- Utah
- Vanderbilt
- Texas
- USC
- Virginia
- Michigan
- Arizona
- Tulane
- Missouri
- Iowa
- James Madison
- Georgia Tech
- North Texas
As we head into Championship Weekend, the playoff picture is far from settled. With crucial matchups in the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 title games still to come, there’s plenty left to be decided.
For teams like BYU, Alabama, and even Oregon, it’s win-and-in territory. For others, like Texas and USC, the door may already be closed - but in college football, you never count anyone out until the final whistle.